Post-operative patient-controlled intravenous oxycodone vs patient-controlled intravenous Piritramide: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Introduction: Adequate postoperative pain control is crucial, but choosing the most suitable analgesic approach can be challenging. Intravenous (IV) opioids like morphine, fentanyl, and piritramide are commonly used, while IV oxycodone is less frequently employed. This study aims to comprehensively compare the efficacy and safety of IV oxycodone and piritramide for postoperative pain management.

Methods: This prospective observational study included patients undergoing abdominal or gynecological surgeries. Patient-controlled IV administration of oxycodone or piritramide was used for pain management. Pain scores, adverse reactions, medication usage, and patient satisfaction were evaluated. Statistical analyses including Chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and repeated measures ANOVA were conducted.

Results: A total of 74 patients were included in the analysis. No significant differences were found in gender, age, surgical type, or American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class between the two groups. Pain perception scores did not significantly differ between oxycodone and piritramide groups at any time point. However, patients under an oxycodone regime required more boluses to reach the same level of pain control. Adverse events were similar in both groups. Six patients dropped out due to various reasons.

Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that intravenous oxycodone does not provide superior pain control compared to piritramide following abdominal and gynaecological operations. The oxycodone group demonstrated higher opioid usage and a greater need for boluses. Despite this, oxycodone was found to be a safe postoperative analgesic with low adverse events. These findings contribute to understanding opioid analgesic choices, aiding in improved patient outcomes and better quality of care.